Riot Games has confirmed that the LEC Spring Split Playoffs will see teams return to play at the LEC Studio in Berlin. After just over a year since the last offline LEC fixture was held at the venue, the six Playoffs teams (which will be finalised after the final round of fixtures this weekend) will return.
The head of League of Legends esports for Europe and MENA, Maximilian ‘MAXtheX’ Schmidt reassures that while the league is excited to welcome players back to the studio, safety is still a top priority. Due to there only being two teams competing on each day of the Playoffs, it is now manageable to safely host players alongside Riot staff and the broadcast team. This does mean however that online play will return post-Playoffs for the Summer Split, as having all ten teams piling into the studio “poses a significantly higher risk and challenge.”
If a Playoffs team is unable to play from the studio due to a team member testing positive for coronavirus, matches can still be played online if necessary.
As expected, there will be no live audience or press allowed into the studio.
While G2 Esports, Fnatic, MAD Lions, and Rogue all experienced offline play in Shanghai at last year’s LoL Worlds, the six remaining LEC teams have not played a single offline game since the league was suspended last March.
OUR PROS ARE BACK IN THE STUDIO FOR PLAYOFFS!
More Info: https://t.co/W1jpDCcVxQ pic.twitter.com/hOpY5bMbKG
— LEC (@LEC) March 12, 2021
Since Worlds, Riot has been ramping up its efforts to host LAN events once again. After the LEC Playoffs, which kick off on March 26, Riot will then prepare to hold both the Mid-Season Invitational and the Valorant Stage 2 Masters in Reykjavik, Iceland.
